Michigan AF Podcast

Farmhaus Cider Co. in Hudsonville started as a dream for John Behrens and his wife and grew quicker than they imagined. From people just showing up to the facility when there wasn't a taproom, to winning an award four years running, the origins story of this Michigan cidery just HAD to be shared.  Connect with Michigan GROWN, Michigan GREAT: Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter Che...

GreenStone Farm Credit Services supports farmers throughout Michigan and Wisconsin with loans, insurance and grants. Hear how the financial institution is giving back to their patrons in a record-breaking way! Connect with Michigan GROWN, Michigan GREAT: Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter Checkout our website at MichiganGrown.org Want to be featured as a Michigan AF business? Email us...

March is Michigan Food & Agriculture Month and we’re joined by the Director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Gary McDowell, to share about all the great ways we can celebrate our agriculture and food in the Great Lakes State.  Connect with Michigan GROWN, Michigan GREAT: Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter Checkout our website at MichiganGrown.org Wa...

Growing Hope in Ypsilanti is providing opportunities for residents to grow, sell, buy, prepare and eat nourishing food. We chat with executive director Cythnia VanRenterghem about the programs provided by Growing Hope and how the organization is creating a sustainable food system in Washtenaw County. Connect with Michigan GROWN, Michigan GREAT: Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter Check...

Loren King, social media strategist with NEOGEN, may not be working directly in production agriculture, but that doesn't stop him from advocating for it. Loren is passionate about sharing farmers' stories and showcasing the technology and innovation farmers use everyday. He shares his insights on the future of farming and how Gen Z will change agriculture. Connect with Michigan GROWN, Mi...

When you visit Ed Dunneback & Girls farm in Grand Rapids, you get so much more than fresh fruits and vegetables from the farm. With delicious food, live music, trivia and a brewery in the basement of the barn, it's an experience - and one you don't want to miss.  Connect with Michigan GROWN, Michigan GREAT: Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter Checkout our website at Michi...

Are fresh fruits and vegetables healthier than frozen? What does genetically modified mean? There are alot of myths around topics related to food and nutrition. We're joined by ambassador Maddie Cary and MSU Agricultural Economist Trey Malone to bust some of the most common myths around agriculture and food. Connect with Michigan GROWN, Michigan GREAT: Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , and...

The Ankley Family Farm was founded in 1902 but that doesn't mean it's an old farm. The farm in Imlay city is constantly evolving and diversifying and in 2020 they added agritourism destination to their resume. We talk to Joe Ankley about how the farm is welcoming guests to pick flowers and more. Connect with Michigan GROWN, Michigan GREAT: Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter...

If you're ringing in the New Year from the comfort of your living room, you can still get festive with InBooze Infusion Cocktail Kits. We're joined by founder Ashleigh Evans to hear all about how the kits work and how she ended up on Oprah's Stocking Stuffer list in 2020.  Connect with Michigan GROWN, Michigan GREAT: Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter Checkout our websi...

It's the most wonderful time of the year - holiday baking time! Emily Lawler from the Cookie Press shares her best tips for baking and decorating the perfect sugar cookies for your holiday season. Tune in for all her baking secrets! Connect with Michigan GROWN, Michigan GREAT: Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter Checkout our website at MichiganGrown.org Want to be featured as a Mi...

Lisa Szymanski is a crop farmer in Port Austin who loves Christmas. Her family has many traditions around finding the perfect tree to put up each year. Lisa's decided she wants to provide those traditions to other families, so she's starting Creekside Christmas Tree Farm. Listen as Lisa shares her vision for the farm and her infectious Christmas Spirit! Connect with Michigan GROWN, Michi...

In the pursuit of the perfect Michigan-grown Thanksgiving, we turned to the experts at the MSU Meat Lab to learn all the tips and tricks for cooking the perfect Thanksgiving turkey. You'll learn how to pick the perfect turkey, how to make sure it's nice and juicy on Thanksgiving (and after) and how to not burn down your house this holiday season! Connect with Michigan GROWN, Michigan GRE...

If you want a taste of Michigan, then look no further than Barrel & Beam Brewery in Marquette. Co-Founder Nick VanCourt shares how they brew Michigan craft beer and cider to perfection and where you can find, even if you're not a Yooper. Connect with Michigan GROWN, Michigan GREAT: Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter Checkout our website at MichiganGrown.org Want to be feature...

Michigan sheep produce about 325,000 lbs. of wool each year and the Zeilinger Wool Company spins much of that wool into beautiful yarn and products. Chief Operations Officer April Zeilinger shares how the 100+ year-old company got its start and some of the ways to spot quality yarn. Connect with Michigan GROWN, Michigan GREAT: Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter Checkout our website at...

Do you eat enough beans? We'll hear from Shari Steinback, a nutritionist and culinary consultant, about why incorporating beans into a plant-forward diet is so important and how you can cook up some tasty beans this season. We'll also meet Steve Ewald, a bean farmer from Tuscola County who shares how and when beans are harvested in Michigan. Connect with Michigan GROWN, Michigan GREAT: F...

Fostering community through coffee isn't just the mission of Foster Coffee Co., it's a labor of love for founder Jon Moore. Meet Jon and hear all about his journey from touring musician to coffee roaster and why connecting with his community, including local farmers and growers, is so important. Connect with Michigan GROWN, Michigan GREAT: Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter...

The Animal Agriculture Alliance brings together farmers, ranchers, processors and others to safeguard the future of animal agriculture. Staffers Emily Solis and Grace Platte share more about their mission and how they work to advocate for farmers and ranchers. Connect with Michigan GROWN, Michigan GREAT: Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter Checkout our website at MichiganGrown.org Want...

The Michigan GROWN, Michigan GREAT podcast is back from our summer hiatus and excited to share stories of agriculture and food from around Michigan. Meet our new host, Noelle Nachreiner, and learn what you can expect from the Michigan AF podcast. Connect with Michigan GROWN, Michigan GREAT: Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter Checkout our website at MichiganGrown.org Want to be feature...

They say all good things must come to an end, but we disagree. We think all good things should take a brief hiatus and relaunch with version 2.0...like this podcast. Over the last three years, Carla Wardin has served as the voice of the Michigan GROWN, Michigan GREAT podcast - introducing us to farmers, producers and ag leaders from throughout Michigan. As Carla moves on to bigger and better thing...

Derek Thom is a crop and cattle farmer at D & D Thom Farms in Peck, and he’s the fifth generation in his family to be on the farm. He grows corn, soybeans, sugar beets, wheat, and hay. He also raises Holstein steers and maintains a beef cow herd. When he’s not on the farm, he likes to hunt, ride his dirt bike, snowmobile, and be outside. Listen as he talks about: The crop he most enjoys harves...

C.J. Hunt owns Hunt’s Hillside Vineyards, LCC in Lawton, where he grows 38 acres of eight different varieties of wine grapes. He contracts his grapes to St Julian Winery in Paw Paw. He and his wife Hilary are raising three children – Payton, Sadie, and Clyde. Together they enjoy sledding, enjoying winter in a greenhouse, and going out to eat. C.J. talks about: How wind machines work to keep off th...

Andrew Woelmer raises corn and soybeans on his seventh-generation family farm, and he also is a financial services officer at GreenStone Farm Credit Services, the agricultural lending organization. Andrew began farming his own land when he was still in college at Ferris State University, and after graduating with an applied math major and finance minor, he got an opportunity to start at GreenStone...

Allan Robinette is part of Robinette’s Apple Haus & Winery, an agri-tourism destination in Grand Rapids. They also offer you-pick of a variety of fruits, a corn maze, a bakery, and many family activities. Allan credits his grandparents Jim and Bethel Robinette with making the transition to a retail business model. When Allan isn’t pruning, talking with visitors, or doing one of the million oth...

Kendra Kissane has her dream job of being the environmental stewardship manager at the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy through Dairy Management Inc. She’s working with farmers to meet the sustainability goals of achieving carbon neutrality or better, optimizing water usage, and improving water quality by 2050. She and her husband are moving to her family’s farm, where she will get to use her inte...

McKenzie and her husband Joe farm hay, livestock, and row crop in Dundee, MI. McKenzie also is a news anchor for ABC 13 in Toledo. She grew up on a crop farm, and she and Joe met at the Monroe County Fair – they even had their engagement pictures taken there. Together they’re raising show pigs, expanding their operation, and traveling – with stops for checking out hay equipment on the way. Listen...